PC Power FAQs
What does PC Power do?
PC Power's mission is to accept donated computers, refurbish them, and give them to indigent children, at-risk children, and disabled adults in northeastern Oklahoma.
PC Power has partnered with the Tulsa Police Department and other area law enforcement agencies to form the North Pole Computer Project. During the week before Christmas, on-duty police officers driving marked patrol cars deliver computers to children throughout the Tulsa area.
PC Power delivers a computer to each new Habitat for Humanity home in Tulsa.
PC Power accepts referrals from representatives of social service agencies who identify qualified persons who would benefit from a home computer.
Does PC Power charge recipients for computers?
All PC Power computers are given to qualified recipients free-of-charge. In addition, each computer is loaded with a variety of office and educational software, and children receive special software selected especially for them. Each recipient is provided free technical support for at least 60 days after receiving a computer from PC Power.
Is PC Power a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) public charity?
Yes, PC Power is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) public charity.
What kinds of computers and equipment can I donate?
PC Power refurbishes only computers that are Pentium-IV (or equivalent) or higher. We understand that many older computers, including pre-Pentium x86 machines still have "some life in them," but those computers cannot run the software and other devices needed in order for children to develop the basic computer skills necessary for success in school and in the workplace. It doesn't matter whether the computers are working or not; we will test them and make any necessary repairs.
We also accept donations of working monitors that are 15-inch or larger. We are unable to repair monitors that are dead, flickering, or have other problems, but we will accept them for recycling. There is a $5.00 fee per monitor to recycle.
We accept donations of working printers, scanners, and any working computer peripherals and devices that are compatible with Windows XP or newer. We are unable to repair printers and other devices, but will accept them for recycling.
We accept donations of software that is compatible with Windows XP or newer. We always need educational software suitable for all ages and subjects as well as original legal copies of Microsoft Office.
We also accept a variety of computer hardware such as servers, UPS devices, and networking equipment.
My computer (or other equipment) is too old to donate. What can I do with it?
Please don't throw it away! PC Power strives to support responsible recycling of computers and electronics by educating the public about the hazards of e-waste and accepting obsolete electronics for recycling. Consider these e-waste facts: (1) Computers are made from precious and other metals, plastics, glass, and other materials that require energy to produce; (2) Computers and monitors contain toxic substances, including lead, mercury, cadmium, chromium, and flame retardants, in amounts sufficient to test hazardous under federal law; (3) Computer monitors contain as much as 27 percent lead. This means that your 20-pound monitor contains approximately five pounds of lead; and (4)each year, over 3 million tons of e-waste is disposed of each year in the U.S.
Currently, computers, accessories, office equipment, and cell phones in the United States are discarded as trash, and end up in landfills. This results in dangerous contamination of soil, air, and water that will last for centuries. Responsible electronics recyclers carefully separate the components in discarded electronics for re-use, keeping them out of the landfill. PC Power is proud to partner with Natural Evolution, Inc., a local zero-landfill electronics recycler. If you have any electronics not suitable for reuse, please take them to Natural Evolution, Inc. for recycling.
How do I donate a computer to PC Power or drop one off for recycling?
If your business has five or more computers to donate that are Pentium-IV equivalent or higher, please email us at information@tulsapcpower.org and PC Power volunteers will arrange to pick up your donation and give you a tax receipt.
If you are a business or individual with fewer than five computers that are Pentium-IV equivalent or higher, please come to the next community-wide computer drop off.
If you have computers or other equipment to be recycled, we will accept them at our next community-wide computer drop off or take them to Natural Evolution anytime.
Why do I have to wait until the next drop off? I'd really like to get rid of this thing.
We understand. We used to accept drop offs every weekend, but quickly realized that we were spending most of our time accepting drop offs, sorting them, and hauling old items to the recycler rather than refurbishing computers for delivery to our applicants. Our primary mission is to refurbish the computers and deliver them to the families who are waiting for them, so we were forced to replace the weekly drop offs with the periodic drop off events. We hope you can wait until the next drop off. In the event that you are unable to wait until then, you can contact Natural Evolution and inquire about taking your computer to their location.
Do you wipe the hard drives of donated computers?
Yes. PC Power conducts a Department of Defense (DOD-level) wipe on each donated hard drive before re-imaging it with a licensed Windows operating system and educational software. Our recycling partner, Natural Evolution, Inc, wipes or destroys hard drives they receive for recycling.
Will my computer donation go to a child?
Nearly every Pentium-IV equivalent (or higher) computer donated will be refurbished and given to a PC Power recipient. In a few cases, PC Power technicians detect problems with mother boards or processors that cannot be repaired. In that event, all usable parts will be used to repair or upgrade other donated machines. Even the case will likely be used to rebuild another machine with another motherboard.
Some donated devices, such as laser printers and all-in-one machines, or networking equipment may be donated to qualified 501(c)(3) charities in the Tulsa area.
Do you provide computers to organizations?
PC Power's mission is to provide computers directly to indigent children, at-risk children, and disabled persons, but we occasionally approve applications from 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations who will provide computer access and support to groups of persons who would otherwise qualify to receive a PC Power computer.
How can the police department in my community join the North Pole Computer Project?
PC Power welcomes the participation of any law enforcement agency in northeastern Oklahoma. We will provide the computers and ask only that your officers deliver them in the week before Christmas. Please email us at information@tulsapcpower.org for more information.
I'd like to volunteer, but I don't know very much about computers.
Do you have four free hours in the next month? If so, you can directly help a deserving family in the Tulsa area to receive one of our computers. We are currently accepting new volunteers to help refurbish computers. Not a computer technician? That's ok -- call us anyway. Many of the tasks involved do not require any computer knowledge at all. The PC Power team includes children, families, retired persons, school teachers, police officers, college students, disabled persons, lawyers, and even some of the families who have received computers from us. All we ask from you is a minimum commitment of four hours per month. What we offer you in return is the opportunity to work with an energetic group of people who are making a real difference in people's lives and having fun at the same time. And you'll probably learn some things that will help you with your own computer at home!
If your family or civic group would like to help with a one-time event or fundraiser, we would be happy to discuss several ideas with you.
If you'd like to know more, email us at information@tulsapcpower.org.